St. Mary’s Mission Center receives sizable donation from CBP

St. Mary’s Mission Center in Champlain received more than 2,300 pieces of counterfeit women’s clothing seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The donation will go to help the less fortunate here and in Joplin, Mo.
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Champlain  St. Mary’s Mission Center has received another sizeable donation that will help clothe those in need.

The mission center recently received more than 2,300 pieces of counterfeit women’s clothing seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the clothing bears counterfeit trademarks, was seized at the Champlain Port of Entry last year after it was found the clothing was bound for Hollywood, Fla. The Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures Office then requested permission from the trademark holder to donate the clothing to charity, which would have otherwise been ordered to be destroyed.

St. Mary’s mission director Fred Stone said the center has received such donations through U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the past, most recently being last November.

“It’s really nice to be able to get donations like this to give to people who need them,” said Stone. “It’d be unfortunate to see them destroyed when people could use them.

The quality of the jeans is high despite being counterfeit, added Stone.

“These pants would probably go for about $50 in a boutique,” he said. “It’s good to see them go to people who could use them rather than see them languish in a landfill.”

The size of the donation was so great, said Stone, that the majority of the jeans will be passed on to those affected by the tornado that ravage Joplin, Mo., earlier this year.

“We’ve been working with R and R Trucking in assisting them with the transport and distribution to emergency centers in Ohio,” said Stone, adding the centers then distribute the donations from there. “It’s good to see they’re helping even more people.”

“It is always nice when all parties get together for the common good and find ways to ensure that those in need will truly be helped out not only for those in the North Country but others from around the United States that suffer through disasters as well,” said Champlain Area Port Director Paul Stephan Mongillo in a prepared statement.

Stone added if anyone has items that can be donated to St. Mary’s Mission Center, he'd be interested in speaking with them.

Those interested in making a donation or in volunteering at the center, can contact Stone at 298-3503.